出演:アル・パチーノ、 クリス・オドネル
過去の栄光にしがみつき、生きる望みも失ってしまった全盲の元少佐が、一人の青年との旅の中で、生きる喜びを見出してゆく。 この作品で主演男優賞を獲得したアル・パチーノの迫真の演技は、2時間30分という長さを感じさせないほど、観る者をスクリーンに釘づけにする。 ぜったいに私お勧めの傑作だ。
A prep-school student, Charlie, wishing to earn some extra money, takes up a part-time job looking after a blind, retired colonel, Frank Slade (Al Pacino). Taken aback at Frank’s bullying attitude, Charlie is yet to witness even more surprises during their week-end trip to New York, where Frank spends money extravagantly, staying at a luxurious hotel, dining at the finest restaurant.
Charlie, on the other hand, is standing at the crossroads. The principal of his school jeopardizes Charlie’s education unless he releases the information of the boys who did a dirty trick on him. When Charlie finds out Frank’s plan of terminating his life with a gun after all this prodigal experience, he feels compelled to stay with him.
Frank appears to be an arrogant crank, who detests everything about life, even including his own existence. But I can feel, deep inside, his amputated soul seeking desperately for love and compassion. I cannot help feeling sympathetic for this lonely blind soldier. At first, Frank is ready to teach this innocent boy a lesson of life, but in the course of interacting with each other, he slowly regains the courage to go on with life. Al Pacino’s brilliant performance will surely keep the audience captivated throughout the entire movie. This is definitely one of the greatest movies I’ve ever seen.